Amazon's Ring cameras now recognize faces—privacy debate heats up

Technology Dec 10, 2025

Amazon just rolled out a facial recognition feature for its Ring doorbell cameras, called Familiar Faces.
Now, your camera can spot and name up to 50 people—think alerts like "Sam is at the door."
While it sounds convenient, it also means the camera collects and stores biometric data from anyone who walks by.

Privacy concerns and regional restrictions

Privacy advocates are worried this could lead to unwanted surveillance or misuse of people's data, especially since info can be kept for six months.
Because of strict privacy laws, the Familiar Faces feature isn't available in Texas, Illinois, or Portland, Oregon—highlighting how tech upgrades often clash with privacy rights.